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xAIPosted 1 week ago

Director, Memphis Power Plant Operations

On-siteSouthaven, Mississippi, United States

Full TimeSenior LevelLargeTechnology

Job Summary

Lead strategic and operational management of the Memphis gas turbine power plant, overseeing 24/7 operations, maintenance, commissioning, and concurrent construction/expansion to deliver reliable electrical power to the Colossus data center. Own end-to-end plant performance, including outage planning, hot gas path management, and fuel budget execution, while ensuring full compliance with environmental, safety, and regulatory requirements. Direct multidisciplinary teams of operators, technicians, and engineers in a high-growth environment requiring extended hours, on-call response, and hands-on site presence. Serve as the primary site representative to regulators, utilities, and the local community, driving continuous improvement in availability, cost, and operational excellence.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in mechanical, electrical, or other engineering discipline
  • 8+ years of experience in power generation operations, plant management, or related industrial or aerospace operations
  • 5+ years of leadership experience managing teams of operators, technicians, and engineers
  • Experience operating or managing gas turbine power plants (simple cycle or combined cycle)
  • Ability to support and supervise plant operations and construction outside of normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and on-call response
  • Must be based at the Memphis, TN site
  • Willingness to work extended hours as needed to support plant reliability and construction milestones
  • General physical fitness required; ability to walk the plant site, access equipment, and work in industrial/outdoor environments (heat, noise, etc.)

Desired Qualifications

  • Experience managing large-scale gas turbine facilities (100 MW+), preferably with high-availability critical power applications (data centers, industrial, or similar)
  • Proven track record of achieving and sustaining high plant availability, reliability, and low forced outage rates
  • Hands-on experience with plant construction, commissioning, start-up, and concurrent operations/expansion of gas turbine facilities
  • Deep knowledge of gas turbine technology (aeroderivative and/or heavy-duty frames), performance optimization, emissions controls (SCR, etc.), and balance of plant systems
  • Experience with high-voltage electrical systems, generators, switchgear, protection, and data center or industrial interconnection
  • Strong understanding of environmental permitting, air quality compliance, and regulatory reporting for combustion turbines
  • Experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments requiring simultaneous operations and major construction
  • Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, fuel costs, contractors, and complex stakeholder relationships
  • Excellent oral and written communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills
  • Unfazed by major, abrupt changes in strategic direction or aggressive timelines
  • Ability to work in a demanding, autonomously driven, start-up atmosphere

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